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An absolutely monumental Sunday featuring no more than ten decent games, as City fluff their lines at Anfield, Arsenal host Everton, the SPL big two go toe-to-toe, Spuds and the Chavs battle it out for Milk Cup, Ajax go to PSV, Emirates humblers Monaco take on PSG, Simeone's charges go to Sevilla, Inter face Fiorentina, Porto and Sporting meet, and Real come up against a decent Villarreal side.

obviously the way Qatar have bought it's a complete farce, but it'd give us a winter break, get rid of pointless games like mid-season friendlies, two-legged domestic cup ties, etc, etc, and the second half of the season getting underway on Boxing Day would be pretty cool.

for me, the time the competition's staged doesn't really matter, even if we adjust the season. the issue is that the governing bodies are completely corrupt and have sold their votes to the highest bidders.

But I'll agree it's pathetic people are up in arms about it being in winter, while people are dying in their hundreds because of FIFA's decision.

Not to mention the deeper corruption and greed in society which means that it will go ahead ultimately unchallenged, because it's a profit maker. Or the fact that we'll accept these deaths to help line the pockets of multinational companies and to entertain us because they're poor people living and working far from our doorsteps. Like we have since colonial times.

most of the top sides are away, with Middlesbrough at Sheffield Wednesday, Derby at Fulham, Watford at Leeds and Brentford at Birmingham, with only Bournemouth at home to Blackburn. then you've got Norwich v Ipswich tomorrow too.

Wrexham could be off to Wembley again though if they win or draw away to Torquay in second leg of the FA Trophy semi final today. That would be nice given their League form has not exactly been great this year.

It's the sort of game where the real bookie bashers earn their dough. Team with a near impeccable home record and a point to prove against a side of no-hopers. Poor performance or not it's literally free money. I've had £500 on them.

Dortmund are only 8 off the top four now. 13 games to play, could be doable. Have to say they still don't look close to the levels of previous years. Any team with Reus in it has to be pretty dangerous though, what a player.

It's really highlighted just how inept Pearce was. All Freedman has had to do is play the better players in their favoured positions. He's been without the same players as Pearce, been forced to turn to Danny Collins and yet has amazingly not been tempted to play three at the back or stick Antonio at full back.

We'd have probably started with every available defender if Pearce had been in charge.

yes, they were pulled apart. but theyre pretty much already over the line and with the squad at their disposal, well, you can understand why many of their fans are extremely confident and already celebrating. Sure, they still have 5 of the top 6 to play but the premeir league is where they'll be next season, they wont mess it up again

Spurs don't have a chance of lifting the Cup today. Chelsea should win in normal time, but i'm backing them to take home the silverware via any means at 7/20.

Liverpool have been City's toughest opponents for several seasons now, and we virtually never win at Anfield. They're the form team in the country, indeed unbeaten this year in the league, and obviously they owe us one for robbing their title last season. I strongly fancy a home win, but in order to guarantee some ale tokens i'll be backing them double chance (so home win or the draw) at 4/6.

This double is 5/4, which is a very sound price indeed. After my £250 win yesterday i'm feeling confident, so am going in to the tune of £800 to win £1000.

it looks pretty much like we're employing an attacking coach to instruct our defence. It's so chaotic and last-ditch it beggars belief, but hey, it's pretty exciting to watch and that's the main thing.

they nearly beat one of the top 3 teams in the Turkish Premier league. City still have to be favourites to win the league, imho. You can't underestimate the bonus of crashing out of all other competitions when it comes to the league run in.